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SOUNDOFF! Art of Healing

Dance, music, painting and other creative pursuits can have therapeutic benefits. Do you have an “art outlet” and how does it help you in coping with depression or anxiety?

CREATIVITY IS an important part of my wellness plan. I am not saying I am an excellent writer or an excellent painter. For me it is the journey, not the end result of my efforts, although sometimes I am pleasantly surprised when I am proud of something I made. While I am creating, I stay in the moment and concentrate and that is what is therapeutic to me. Anxiety is so much about worrying about the past or future but doing something artistic keeps you present and relaxed.
—S.B., ANACORTES, WA

I PLAY GUITAR and sing. The music is an essential part of my life. It keeps me connected with a supportive community of friends as well as providing an outlet for my creativity. I can pick up my guitar whatever mood I’m in and it picks me up or calms me down as needed.
—C.E., ORILLIA, ON

I FOUND A local business that offered painting classes. Anxieties and sadness slipped away with each paintbrush stroke filled with beautiful colors. I had never painted on canvas before and felt like a “real” artist. I’ve now set up a studio using coupons and discount websites to buy supplies. I have a music player and my cat to keep me company. I paint every time I can put three or four “empty” weekend hours together.
—P.H., BIXBY, OK

CREATIVE OUTLETS do wonders for depression. When the world seems dark and ugly, creating a quilt helps me start focusing on the beauty that is being created and then the world doesn’t seem so bad. It’s the best weapon in my arsenal against depression.
—L.W., RALEIGH, NC

EXPRESSIVE ART JOURNALING has been incredibly healing in my recovery from depression. When I feel an overwhelming emotion like anger, anxiety, or despair, I open my journal and “let it rip” on paper using crayons or paint until I feel more in control. This way, I get the emotion out of my head and I can breathe a little easier.
—T.F., GAINESVILLE, FL

WHEN I SENSE I’m falling down the black dog spiral of depression and anxiety I reach out to be caught in the spider’s web of hope and recovery. To make this a reality, I reach for a wooden plaque and begin carving or burning a new original design. This process of being in “flow” relaxes and calms me to a point where I am able to detach and simply “be.”
—Name Withheld, ORLANDO, FL

DOING VISUAL ART and making jewelry helps me cope by giving me an outlet for my emotions, boosting my self-esteem, and giving me a means to communicate with others when I share it. When I am totally immersed in the process of creation, I am calmer and feel like the world is right, like I have fulfilled my purpose.
—P.W., ALPENA, MI

I BELIEVE THAT MUSIC helps your mind to be free. You can relate to the words of that song at that moment or just listen to the beat. I have made a very long playlist and just shuffle the songs. I keep adding to it
every day. Listening to some artists and their words lets you know that you are not the only one in pain. It’s not a cure, but can soothe you for a moment.
—P.T., GATINEAU, QC

I HAVE ALWAYS loved to dance, sing, act, and create art. Being able to stretch beyond and out of yourself is healing! This life is hard. We constantly need to reconnect to positive music and media to rise above discouragement. When I dance, sing, act, it is like shouting to the Heavens praise or a need for help. Go for it!
—D.B., SYRACUSE, NY

SoundOFF!

HEALTHY HABITS

Most of us don’t default to healthy habits. It takes planning and effort, and sometimes a surge of self-discipline, to eat right, exercise, get the sleep we need, and stay on top of work and life tasks. Establishing new habits, let alone purging bad ones, can require major effort, especially if we are also struggling with depression or anxiety. What are some good habits that you've formed and how did you build them?